US Government Begins Quantum Computing Investment, IBM Receives Massive Funding

Washington, DC, KOMPAS.com – The US government is expanding its portfolio of strategic investments by entering the quantum computing industry. Citing Yahoo Finance, Friday (22 May 2026), the US government announced it would grant funding to nine quantum computing firms in exchange for minority equity. The move marks the entry of quantum technology into the list of sectors supported by US government investment, after previously including the semiconductor, steel, nuclear energy, and rare earth minerals sectors. The Trump administration has been active in deploying capital into various sectors deemed important for economic competitiveness and national security in the past year. The US government says the strategy aims not only to support strategic industries but also to open opportunities for investment returns for the country. Earlier, the US government obtained a golden share in the acquisition of US Steel by Nippon Steel. The government also took an 8 percent stake in the nuclear energy company Westinghouse. Since the investment was announced in August last year, Intel’s share price has seen a significant rise and generated unrealised gains for the US government believed to exceed $40 billion. Trump even hinted at the success of the investment via his social media last month. The quantum computing investment scheme is considered to follow a pattern similar to the government’s approach in the rare earth sector. In recent years, the United States has been seeking to reduce dependence on China in the rare earth supply chain, a key component of modern electronics. The US government has previously taken equity stakes in several strategic mineral companies, including magnet producer Vulcan Elements, mining company MP Materials, and USA Rare Earth. The investment model is similar to the quantum computing funding plan, whereby the government channels grants to high-risk or developing technology companies in exchange for minority equity.